# Chapter 67: Mrs. Kingsley
Kingsley's side had already been arranged. According to the plan, they would host a banquet tonight. Calculating carefully, Kingsley had been in the Western Continent for over ten days, during which even news of his death had been reported. Naturally, a banquet needed to be organized to stabilize the Eclipse Organization's situation.
In reality, Su Xiao was doing the same thing. As soon as he returned to the Southern Continent, he rushed back to the Mechanism Headquarters. With the support of Dean Victor, Lady Xiu Lin, and various mid-to-high-level members, he reclaimed his position as Legion Commander. Don't forget, he had voluntarily resigned from the Mechanism Legion Commander position to serve as the temporary alliance's deputy commander.
Both the Mechanism and the Eclipse Organization had stabilized. The relationship between the Southern Alliance and the Eastern Alliance was somewhat delicate, both busy with post-war resource extraction and distribution issues.
To put it simply, the situation between those two sides was: good brothers in the early stages, sulking in the middle, and looking at each other like idiots by the end.
Inside the office, Su Xiao signaled Baha to open the window. The cool evening breeze lifted the curtains. Su Xiao had been resting in his chair for over two hours, and the breeze invigorated his thoughts. He checked the time — it was already past ten, less than an hour until the agreed time of eleven with Kingsley.
Tonight, Su Xiao would lead a team to raid Kingsley's banquet. Tomorrow night, Kingsley would lead a team to raid the Mechanism Headquarters, intercepting the dangerous object S-001. The excuse would be: your Mechanism's Legion Commander kidnapped my wife and child. If you want dangerous object S-001, fine — trade it for my wife and child.
Taking S-001 would mean completely falling out with the entire Containment Institution, even forming an irreconcilable blood feud that would be fought to the death. But if, before that, the Mechanism Legion Commander had kidnapped Kingsley's wife and child, then there was a reason for it. Whether Mechanism members, the Containment Institution, or the Finance Department, they would all feel somewhat in the wrong — right, our Legion Commander struck first.
As the one who struck first, Su Xiao also had his reasons. During the Western Continent war, the enemy's three great leaders, the Three Knights, had mysteriously disappeared. He suspected Kingsley was sheltering the Three Knights, wanting to use the power of the threadworms.
Su Xiao naturally knew that Kingsley had dealt with the Three Knights, even scattering their ashes in the river. That wasn't important — as long as outsiders didn't know about it. As for Rings 1 through 5, who had dealt with the Three Knights alongside Kingsley, they were all Kingsley's trusted confidants. Their testimony wouldn't be believed by outsiders.
The Alliance World wasn't without laws — it was a world of barbaric violence. The four major powers balanced each other, and none would do something unreasonable (at least not openly).
Therefore, before doing anything, one must first establish a "reason." By kidnapping Kingsley's wife and child, Su Xiao was forcing Kingsley to hand over the Three Knights. Kingsley taking S-001 was to save his wife and child. Neither side was acting without cause.
Su Xiao pondered for a moment, then gave some instructions to Bubu Wang and Baha. A few minutes later, Bubu Wang merged into the environment, and Baha shuttled into an alternate space.
"Tide Hunter, I'm giving you a task."
"Mm."
Tide Hunter stood with her arms crossed, clearly no longer as resistant as before. She hadn't not resisted — it was just useless, and she'd end up being used anyway.
"Regardless, Kingsley and I are in a cooperative relationship. For me to personally capture his wife would be undignified for both sides. You'll handle this."
"Fine."
Tide Hunter readily agreed. She had interacted with Kingsley's wife before; they had some personal connection.
Su Xiao began waiting for news from Bubu Wang and Baha. With nothing else to do, he opened the World Source Ranking to check the current standings.
[World Source Ranking refreshed. Current ranking as follows.]
First: Bai Ye (Reincarnation Paradise), 73.56% World Source.
Second: Xian Ji (Holy Light Paradise), 52.7% World Source.
Third: Yalike (Death Paradise), 38.6% World Source.
Fourth: En Zuo (Death Paradise): 37.91% World Source.
Fifth: Three Brothers of National Football (Reincarnation Paradise), 28.88% World Source (Contract ID compatible status).
Sixth: Black Rose (Reincarnation Paradise), 27.5% World Source.
Seventh: Guang Mu (Holy Light Paradise), 18.62% World Source.
...
The changes in the World Source Ranking were significant. Su Xiao's first place was temporarily stable, but with Xian Ji's strength, it wasn't impossible for her to catch up and surpass him.
Third-place Yalike had lost his eternal second-place position. Moreover, a contractor named En Zuo had suddenly emerged. This person hadn't been in the top ten before — Su Xiao remembered him being ranked eleventh. Right after the Western Continent war ended, this person's ranking had jumped dramatically.
Su Xiao speculated that En Zuo was a contractor from the Western Continent faction. He had abandoned his accumulated gains there and, through some method, exchanged his previous accumulations for a large amount of World Source.
Su Xiao had naturally heard of this contractor named En Zuo. The title "Contract Killer · Water Brother" was widely known among the Eighth Rank. Water Brother's famous battle was 1 vs 37 — don't think those were 37 Eighth Rank weaklings; they were all high-tier Eighth Rank contractors.
It was on a Gobi desert. Water Brother, blind in both eyes, just sat there. Anyone within several hundred meters who moved would die, cut into millions of pieces by water layers as thin as cicada wings. Not only could they not move — anyone who attacked Water Brother from range would have their head sliced off by a water line in the next instant.
This was one of Water Brother's famous battles. Another was his 1-on-1 fight with Brigade 4. The battle was recorded by a healing-type girl, but the image was completely distorted — Brigade 4's gravity ability affected the recording device.
Basically, everyone's assessment of Water Brother was: this person is easy to get along with, humble yet powerful, trustworthy if cooperating.
Some bored person had compiled the behavioral style information of contractors they knew from Ranks 1 to 8, creating a ranking.
Water Brother ranked third, Divine Emperor ranked twelfth personally, National Football ranked twenty-ninth. As for Su Xiao's ranking, you'd have to look past the top five. He, Gray Gentleman, Priest, Black Demon Fatty, and others were neighbors in this ranking, all within 10 places of each other.
Some contractors joked that this ranking wasn't very useful for finding collaborators, but those last few dozen were definitely not to be messed with. Overall, the ranking had high warning value.
Su Xiao closed the World Source Ranking. His desire to kill Xian Ji grew stronger. Hostility between them was inevitable, plus they were competitors.
Just as Su Xiao was thinking about how to deal with Xian Ji, Bubu Wang sent a transmission — he and Baha had set everything up.
Su Xiao had Amu go to the designated location to wait, then brought Thin Monkey · Xili and Guang Mu to leave the Mechanism Headquarters. Not many people were needed this time.
...
11 PM, Saint Loco Grand Hotel.
Today's "Saint Loco Grand Hotel" had an honored guest. From the prime evening hours onward, it stopped receiving other guests, waiting only for the VIP who had booked the banquet hall.
Only two security personnel stood at the main entrance, and they were in the corner. No security was needed here tonight — many of the arriving guests possessed supernatural power.
Several bellhops stood on either side of the red carpet at the main entrance, responsible for guiding guests or parking cars for those arriving alone. Under the warm yellow lighting, the atmosphere was harmonious and pleasant.
The honored guests had all entered. The bellhops looked delighted, their waist pouches bulging from the many tips they'd received.
A man in formal attire, somewhat thin, walked out from the hotel's main entrance. He glanced at his watch, his expression turning displeased.
"It's already eleven. Why hasn't Ring 2 arrived? Being late today of all days, that gloomy bastard."
Ring 8 · Huaziwo looked around at the street ahead. Just as he was about to send someone to find Ring 2, he noticed a figure sitting on the roof of the building across the street. Looking closely, wasn't that Ring 2?
"Ring 2, what are you doing cooling off up there? The banquet has already started."
"..."
Ring 2, sitting on the roof, didn't speak. He just pointed at a car by the roadside. Ring 8 · Huaziwo looked confused, then understanding dawned. He smiled, turned, and walked back into the hotel, waving his hand behind him as he said, "Hard work, you. You're always so reliable. At an occasion like this, you're still worried someone might tamper with the lady's car."
The night breeze blew gently. Ring 2, sitting on the roof, remained silent, just waiting there.
It wasn't until 1 AM that the banquet showed signs of ending. One by one, thoroughly drunk guests were helped out of the hotel by their subordinates or attendants, picked up by cars.
Soon, a beautiful woman holding a baby walked out of the hotel, followed by Ring 8 · Huaziwo.
A black car pulled up. An attendant immediately stepped forward to open the door. The beautiful woman holding the baby got into the back seat. Ring 8 · Huaziwo made to get into the passenger seat, but a voice called from behind:
"Ring 8, the master is looking for you."
"Huh? I need to escort the lady back."
"This..."
The one-armed woman standing inside the hotel door looked troubled. Seeing this, Huaziwo leaned in to look inside the car, spotting Ring 2 in the driver's seat.
"Ring 2, wait for me. It's not that I don't trust you — it's safer if we both protect the lady."
"Mm."
Ring 2 in the driver's seat responded, then turned off the engine. Ring 8 · Huaziwo patted the car roof, turned, and ran back into the hotel.
This wait lasted half an hour. Mrs. Kingsley in the back seat said nothing, but Ring 2 kept pulling out his pocket watch, checking it every few minutes. It was clear he was suppressing his anger.
"Madam, should we have Ring 4 or Ring 5 accompany us?"
Ring 2 spoke. Mrs. Kingsley in the back seat shook her head. Ring 4 had important matters, and Ring 5 was over four meters tall — unless he sat on the roof or ran behind the car, which would be disrespectful to Ring 5.
"Ring 2, let's go back first."
Mrs. Kingsley's voice was gentle, but it carried some of Kingsley's calm composure.
"Madam, let's wait a few more minutes for Ring 8..."
"No need. If we wait a few more minutes, you two might end up in conflict tomorrow. Your leader is already tired enough — don't add unnecessary trouble for him. Drive. I trust you just as my husband does."
"Mm."
Ring 2 started the car, driving smoothly. Not slow, but very steady.
Beep beep!
Bright light shone from ahead. A white car drove straight toward them. Ring 2 in the driver's seat raised his hand, a hint of fierceness in his eyes.
"Ring 2, don't~"
Beep!!
The two cars barely passed each other. On both sides of the street, dozens of figures darted out from the darkness.
Boom~
A low rumble sounded in everyone's ears. The sound wasn't loud, but everyone heard it. The car carrying Mrs. Kingsley had penetrated through a light membrane-like barrier, already half-disappeared.
A large claw reached out, clanking as it grabbed the car's trunk. Since the car was at full speed, accompanied by the tearing of metal, the large claw ripped off half the trunk, sparks flying everywhere.
The light membrane across the street disappeared, and the spatial fluctuations it caused dissipated.
Moments later, three figures rushed over — a burly man over four meters tall, a one-armed woman, and Ring 8 · Huaziwo.
"Where... where are they?!"
Ring 8 · Huaziwo grabbed an Eclipse member by the neck. Every muscle on his face twitched, his brow furrowed into a deep crease.
"I... I don't know."
"Damn it!"
Ring 8 · Huaziwo suppressed his anger. He immediately ordered his subordinates to find the Hound — not a dog, but the title of a superhuman.
...
Edge of Jiaman City, a desolate street. The buildings on both sides looked old and rundown. Without moonlight, it would be pitch black here at night.
A car with half its trunk torn off slowly came to a stop. Ring 2 in the driver's seat pressed his hand to his face, removing the mask. His appearance and clothes rapidly changed — it was Thin Monkey · Xili.
Thin Monkey · Xili carefully put away the mask. He turned to look at the back seat, smiled, and said:
"Mrs. Kingsley... uh, let's call you Lady Nan. Lady Nan, if I said I have no ill intentions, would you believe me?"
"I believe you. What should I do? How should I cooperate with you? Don't hurt my child."
Mrs. Kingsley was very calm — so calm that Thin Monkey · Xili found it surprising.
The car door opened. Su Xiao got into the passenger seat. Tide Hunter sat in the back.
As soon as Su Xiao got in, Mrs. Kingsley's expression became extremely serious. She knew tonight's matter was bigger than she had imagined. The Mechanism and the Eclipse Organization might be about to sever ties.
"Bai Ye, aren't you and my husband in a cooperative relationship? Is it worth it, for me and my child?"
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. Out of habit, he reached for a cigarette, but thought better of it and took out a Soul Crystal (Small), tossing it into his mouth and crunching it.
This habitual action of Su Xiao's made Mrs. Kingsley's pupils rapidly contract. The ring on her pinky silently opened, and a barely perceptible energy wrapped around the baby in her arms.
"Mrs. Kingsley, we've already prepared a residence for you. You..."
Tide Hunter began speaking in the gentlest voice possible, but at that moment, Mrs. Kingsley suddenly swung a sideways punch.
Boom!!
Tide Hunter flew backward as a blur. The section of the car where she had been sitting turned into scattered iron fragments.
Debris fell around Tide Hunter as she sat inside a half-collapsed wall, completely stunned, her face still stinging.
Mrs. Kingsley leaped backward from the wrecked car. Half a metal staff flew out from her sleeve, and the other half detached from the outside of her calf. The two halves clicked together, grasped in Mrs. Kingsley's hand.
Mrs. Kingsley stood on the ground. She tapped the ground with her metal staff. With a click, the staff fully extended, the shaft unfolding into connected blades, ultimately forming a whip-staff. She flicked it, and most of the whip-staff hung to the ground.
Tide Hunter and Xili were dumbfounded. Tide Hunter stood up and walked forward slowly.
"You... who are you."
Tide Hunter seriously doubted — was this really Mrs. Kingsley?
Mrs. Kingsley held the whip-staff in one hand, cradling the baby in the other. She said, "I am... an ordinary housewife."